Fruit picker



July 25, 195o D.f BARKSCHAT FRUIT PICKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1946 v. .fffhnhhhhlllllllv fa D. BARKSCHAT July 25, 1950 FRUIT PICKER 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed May 29, 1946 Patented July 25, 1950 2,516,540 @WT Pl lleris .leltlsssliat .Ivsriv stills, Calif. aggratis?? .2.9, 194,6, .Serial ,Ng d (c1. 56-3s8 I 5 Claims. 1

vThe invention relates to fruit pickers Yof the general type in which a stem-cutting mechanism is mounted on a frame projecting upwardly from a pole, and the principal .object of the invention is to provide a new 'and improved picker which allows the fruit to be more readily seen and more easily engaged by the cutting mechanism, saving a great 'deal' of4 troublesome and tiresome head and arm movements and maneuvering of the picker to rst' see the fr ui-t and then engage the cutting mechanism with it.

In carrying out the'above end, a further object is to provide a novel openwor-k fruit catcher under the cutting mechanism to receive the cut fruit and guide it to a flexible tube through which it descends as usual, the openwork'nature of said fruit catcher preventing it from obstructing the vision of the person using the picker.

Another object is to providea novel means to prevent bruising of the cut fruit when it falls onto said fruit catcher.

A still further object is to provide novel and advantageous means for detachably connecting the fruit-receiving and conducting tube to the frame.

Another object is to make novel provision for cutting the fruit stems either close to the fruit or relatively distant from it, as desired.

Still another object is to provide for adjusting the cutting mechanism finto different angular relations with the pole, for the convenience of the operator.

Still another object is to provide a novel construction which allows movement of the fruit catcher to an ineffective position to provide a compact structure for shipment or storage, or to permit the use of the picker yfor pruning.'

Yet another object is to provide a simple, light, and inexpensive construction, yet one which `will be eicient and durable.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the improved picker.

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side ,elevation 4showing the side'opposite that illustrated in Fig. l.

Figure 5 is an upper end View.

Figure .6 -is a horizontal section substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Figure '7 is a perspective view ofthe upper end .of the fruit-receiving and conducting tube.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of .the pad which is applied to .thefruit catcher.

' Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section on line 9-'9ofFig.5.

Figure 10 is a transverse section on line vwww of Fg'g. .Y f

' Figure 11 isa detail vertical section showing a gauge whichy may be applied tothe fixed cutter when the fruitV is to be cut with lbngJst'ems'.' M

A preferred construction has been Iillustrated and -will be rather" specifically described/with the understanding, however', that within 'the scope of the invention as claimed,` variations maybe made. H r

A vertical frame I2 is secured to and projects upwardly from a pole I3,'"sa`id frame cmprisingv a ferrule I :i and'two" arms or sidedoars I5 secured to the upper end of said 'rferu'le and F disposed" vertically' in laterally spaced rlatiofl'.

A fixed cutter IB extendsbetween the upper ends of the arms I5 and is provided withy downwardly peut ends or arms lr which 11e againstsaid bars or arms I5 and are pivoted 'thereto at -I y"on .transversely aimed' pivots' to permitfofward rearward swinging for l'the purpos'e'ofldis'posing the cutter I6 in any selected'angular'rlation with thefframel?. and pole Iijfortle convenience of the operator. A thumb' screw" .I-'E 'extends through a slot" 2Q in one vof the down'wavrdly .projecting cutter ends' `l-'I and t. 'aded through one of` the arms 'I5 for clamp 'Lth'e cutter 'it in adjusted poseren. "one ens e trie fixed cutter I6 and the' contiguous portion of the adjacent arm I'I`, are slotted at El and' "a 'sr sheave .22 is mounted inthe'slot, ana'ppropi e guard hood `23 being secured' tosaidcitteiiend to encase the upper portion 'of Asaid sheave. inwardly spaced relationiwith'thesheav 22', the utter It 0is ferme witha' .longitudinally .tending S1015 24,211@ IBOWa'Id th tflr 15nd O'f i cutter i5, a n'ger'lis stamped downivardly. A reciprocatory cutter l2'6fre'vsts 'slidably upon the cutter le, 'said cutter-. 1 :eend is beig trvided with coope-rable forwardlyv project'irygfiingers 2 'I and 28'respectively'."` A'n" ai'jcheizl"platF `2 ,9 extends longitudinally 'over the rear portion vof the icutterz, spacingnsleevesill are in between 'the'upper'-prton" :of this'arched D' and said cutter '26, and "screws'gl pts'rthro "said archedplate and said" sleeve" and lare threadxed'lihto the" aged' cutter dejure cutter" itt 4by ing rformed. with longitl'ldinal- `slots152''tl'ijo'ugh screws `A`tthe en i? .e .Cei'eiu @werd ,the shear@ 12.23 there is dwri.- wardly `stamped finger' 33 `which isconnected Aby a 26 having the finger 33, is provided also with an upwardly bent lug 35. To this lug, one end of a cable 36 is connected, said cable extending over the sheave 22 and being suitably connected with a grooved pulley 3l which is mounted on one of the frame arms I5. This pulley is provided with an actuating arm 38 from which a rod or the like 38 extends downwardly to an appropriate handle (not shown) on the lower end of the pole I3. Obviously, a downward pull on the rod or the like 38' will turn the pulley 3l, thus pulling upon the cable 36 to operate the movable cutter 26. It will be seen that the parts I6 and I'I form an inverted U-shaped supporting and adjusting member for the stem-cutting mechanism and that the pivots I'8 and clamping screw I9 will permit angular adjustment of that mechanism with respect to the frame.

An openwork fruit catcher 39 projects forwardly from the frame I2 under the cutting mechanism and is declined toward said frame to direct the fruit through an opening 40 in the upper end of a flexible tube 4I which downwardly conducts the fruit in the usual way. The fruit catcher 39 comprises parallel side bars 42 connected at their outer ends by an end bar 43 and connected at suitable intervals by transverse wires 44. The lower ends of the side bars 42 are pivoted at 45 to the arms l5 to permit upward swinging of the fruit catcher 39 to an inactive position to provide a more compact structure for storage or shipment. Obviously when the catcher is folded the cutting mechanism may be used for pruning, if desired. Suitable foldable inclined braces 46 connect the front portions of the side bars 42 with the arms I5 of the frame I2 and normally form side guards for the fruit catcher. These braces, of course, buckle upwardly when the catcher 39 is to be swung to an inactive position when the device is to be transported or stored away.

While the front portion of the fruit catcher 39 is left unobstructed for clear vision, the rear portion of said catcher is preferably covered with an appropriate pad 4l to prevent bruising of the cut fruit as it drops from the cutting mechanism, the rear end of said pad preferably extending into the opening 40. To secure the pad 41 in place, its front portion is provided with tabs 48 folded downwardly and inwardly around the side bars 42 of the fruit catcher 39, said tabs being secured against the lower side of the pad 41 by curtain fasteners or the like 49.

The tube 4I is provided with a wire frame 5E suitably secured thereto along the vertical and upper edges of the opening 4B, the lower end 5I of said frame being exposed at the front side of said tube 4l and being preferably V-shaped. The

upper` corners of the frame 5B are also exposed Y,

and these corners are detachably engaged with the hooks 52 secured to the vdownturned ends I'I of the fixed cutter I6. A tension spring 53 is detachably connected with the lower end 5I' of the frame 50, by means of a hook 54, the lower end of said spring 53 being connected with the upper end of a link 55, which link is suitably connected with a handlever 5B fulcrumed at 51 on the ferrule I4. It will be seen on reference to Fig. 1 that the lower end of link 55 is pivoted to lever- 56 at a point spaced downwardly from its pivot 51. When this lever 5B occupies the past-deadcenter-position of Fig. 1, it holds the spring 53 under tension and thus holds the frame 5l]i ef- .fectively engaged with the hooks 52. When the around said side bars between two of said wires lever 56 is swung upwardly, the spring 53 is released and may be unhooked from the lower end 5l of the frame 50, permitting unhooking of the latter from the hooks 52. This detachment o the frame and the tube 4I connected therewith, is advantageous, not only for cleaning the latter, but when the device is to be used for pruning instead of fruit picking.

The manner of using the improved picker will be obvious and it will be apparent that it not only gives excellent visibility'but permits easy engagement with the fruit stems without the customary maneuvering of the picker, accompanied by troublesome and tiresome head and arm movements. When the fruit is to be cut with short stems, the cutter I6 of course rests directly on the fruit, but if long stems be required, a gauge plate 58 of substantially the same shape as the iixed cutter I 6, may be suitably mounted at 59 under said xed cutter, as seeh in Fig. 1l, thus so spacing the cutting mechanism above the fruit, as to provide the latter with the required long stems.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous construction has been provided for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while preferences have been diS- closed, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. In a fruit picking device having a pole, a fruit receiving tube and means for cutting the stems of fruit and directing the cut fruit into the tube, said means comprising an upright frame disposed in the plane of a pole above the top thereof and including parallel side bars, a manually-actuated stem-cutting mechanism connected straight across the tops of said side bars and projecting forwardly from said frame in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto, and a substantially rectangular, openwork fruit catcher disposed in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position beneath said cutting mechanism for directing fruit dropping therefrom rearwardly through said frame into a receiving tube at the rear of' said frame, said catcher having its lower end connected to the lower portions of said frame bars and its upper end projecting forwardly beyond the frontv portion of said cutting mechanism, the openwork formation of said catcher permitting said cutting mechanism to be seen by the user of the device when the pole is held in a perpendicular position.

2. The structure of claim l in which said fruit catcher has its lower end pivoted to said frame bars for compact folding against the front of said frame, and foldable braces connecting said frame bars .to said catcher to hold the latter in its inclined position and to constitute side guards for said catcher.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said fruit catcher comprises parallel side bars, an outer end bar connecting the outer ends of said side bars, spaced transverse wires extending between and secured to said side bars, and side guards extending from said side bars to said frame bars and serving to support, the outer portion of said catcher.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said fruit catcher includes parallelside bars and spaced wires extending between and secured to said side bars, together with a rectangular fruit-cushioning pad having at one end laterally-projecting, flexible tabs foldable downwardly and inwardly when said pad lies on the lower portion of said catcher with the free end of the pad extending through said frame, and means for detachably connecting the folded ends of said tabs to the bottom of said pad.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said cutting mechanism includes an inverted U-shaped member extending across the tops of said frame bars, the depending arms of said member being disposed in overlapping contact with the upper portions of said frame bars, transversely alined pivots connecting the lower ends of said arms to said frame bars to permitI angular adjustment of said cutting mechanism with respect to said frame, and means for fastening said member in an adjusted position.

DORIS BARKSCHAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1.1 Number Name Date Roberts et a1. Dec. 4, 1866 Merker Feb. 14, 1905 Pierce et al Jan. 16, 1906 Farmer June 23, 1914 Elkins July 25, 1916 Gifford Jan. 30, 1917 Hysom Apr. 26, 1921 Charnoph Sept. 13, 1921 Wangerin Apr. 16, 1929 Kinkead Dec. 17, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 9, 1914 

